Quite dark for the grape, this wine from the Carpinteria estate of Rick and Penny Morales shows red plums, pepper, dried oregano, cooked beef, hoisin and mint chocolate on the lush nose. Though the wine is five years old, the tannins remain quite present on the palate, where bay leaf, black cardamom, espresso, cedar and exotic spices give depth to the black plum and dark strawberry fruit. 92 points